A robotic gripper (end effector) for an arm-type robotic system includes a hierarchical sensor architecture that utilizes a central data processing circuit to generate rich sensory tactile data in response to pressure, temperature, vibration and/or proximity sensor data generated by finger-mounted sensor groups in response to interactions between the robotic gripper and a target object during robotic system operations. The rich sensory tactile data is used to generate feedback signals that directly control finger actuators and/or tactile information that is supplied to the robotic system's control circuit. Sensor data processing circuits are configured to receive single-sensor data signals in parallel from the sensor groups, and to transmit corresponding finger-level sensor data signal on a serial bus/signal line to the central data processing circuit. Each sensor group and an associated sensor data processing circuit are disposed on a PCB structure and mounted on a contact portion of an associated gripper finger.

The disclosure relates to a biomimetic limb and robot using the same. The biomimetic limb includes: an arm and a biomimetic hand connected to the arm and including at least one biomimetic finger. The biomimetic finger includes a carbon nanotube layer and a vanadium dioxide layer (VO.sub.2) layer stacked with each other. Because the drastic, reversible phase transition of VO.sub.2, the biomimetic finger has giant deformation amplitude and fast response. An robot using the biomimetic limb is also provided.

The pick up tool is an extension apparatus. The pick up tool is an articulated structure. The pick up tool is configured for use with a targeted object. The pick up tool grasps a targeted object for subsequent manipulation. The span of the length of the pick up tool is adjustable. The pick up tool comprises a clamp, a telescopic structure and a remote control. The telescopic structure forms the extension apparatus of the pick up tool. The clamp forms the articulation of the pick up tool. The clamp grasps the targeted object. The remote control controls the operation of the clamp.

A robot skin apparatus includes polymer membranes encapsulating a pressure sensor. The sensor includes piezo-sensitive material in contact with a pair of electrodes in spaced relationship to form a circuit. The apparatus may include a flexible substrate, with the electrodes thereon. The piezo-sensitive material may be piezoresistive film. The electrodes may be symmetrically patterned on the substrate to form a substantially circular peripheral boundary. The apparatus may include pressure sensors on opposite sides of a plane for temperature compensation, a plurality of pressure sensors arrayed on the substrate, and a data acquisition system. A method of fabricating the apparatus includes a wet lithography process for patterning the piezoresistive film. A system includes a pair of gripper fingers, an actuator connected to the fingers, a robot skin apparatus positioned on one of the fingers, and an electronic unit for receiving data from the robot skin and controlling the fingers.

The present invention relates to a depalletizing system and a method for controlling the same. The depalletizing system, which picks up a plurality of objects to move the picked up objects to a predetermined position, includes: a camera unit for acquiring image data of tops of the plurality of objects; a controller for performing vision recognition for the acquired image data of tops of the plurality of objects to determine whether two neighboring objects among the plurality of objects are pickable at a time; and a picking robot for at a time picking up the two objects determined as pickable objects at a time to move the picked up objects to the predetermined position.

Provided are a system, method(s), and apparatus for automatically harvesting mushrooms from a mushroom bed. The system, in one implementation, may be referred to herein as an automated harvester, having at least an apparatus/frame/body/structure for supporting and positioning the harvester on a mushroom bed, a vision system for scanning and identifying mushrooms in the mushroom bed, a picking system for harvesting the mushrooms from the bed, and a control system for directing the picking system according to data acquired by the vision system. Various other components, sub-systems, and connected systems may also be integrated into or coupled to the automated harvester.

The present invention provides a prosthetic device (10) having an anchor portion (30) in combination with a base portion (12) which is connected to the anchor portion (30). An elongate digit (14) is coupled to a first portion of a pivot connection (16a) mounted on the base portion (12), whilst a second portion of a pivot connection (16b) is mounted on the proximal end (14a) of the digit (14) and is connected to the first portion (16a) of the pivot connection (16). A linear actuator (40) within the elongate digit (14) has a first portion (40a) secured to the elongate digit (14) for movement therewith and a second portion (40b) remote therefrom and axially movable relative thereto and is operable with said pivot connection (16) to cause pivotal movement of the digit (14) around the pivot connection (16a, 16b) upon axial movement of the second portion (40b) of the linear actuator (40).

Soft picking tools for a pick and place robotic system are disclosed. A soft picking tool includes a body made of an integrated piece. The body includes stiff fingers located on a distal end of the body. The body also includes a portion of a soft-walled cavity configured to be deformed by application of a positive or negative pressure in the soft-walled cavity, leading to a motion of the stiff fingers, from a rest position, towards or away from a medial axis of the soft picking tool. The soft picking tool also includes one or more fingertips, where at least one of the stiff fingers includes a fingertip embedded on its distal end. The single-piece design and fingertips enable increased robustness, a reduced footprint, large gripping and spreading forces, and more efficient cluttered and flush grasping.

A robot forceps includes an insertion tube and a gripper provided at a tip end of the insertion tube. The gripper includes: a first claw portion and a second claw portion arranged so as to be opposed to each other; and a first rotary actuator connected to the first claw portion and configured to rotate the first claw portion by supply of an operating liquid into a first pressure chamber.

Provided is a robot and a control method thereof in which the motion of an arm 12 as a specified limb among a plurality of limbs 12 and 14 extended from a body 10 is controlled according to a specified trajectory. If a first interaction state, in which a hand 126, which is an end effector, interacts with a horizontal wood member L (j) of a ladder L in a first mode is implemented, then a control command is given to an actuator 41 that drives the hand 126 to cause the hand 126 to perform a grasping motion, thereby implementing a second interaction state, in which the hand 126 interacts with the horizontal wood member L (j) in a second manner. If the second interaction state is implemented, a control command is given to a brake 42 to maintain a motion halt state of the hand 126.